I LOVE BLAAK CHEESE!
Nov. 6th, 2011 01:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wwcitizenA few weeks ago, I ordered some BLAAK cheese. It's an ashed goat cheese produced by the Fabulous Beekman Boys' farm in Sharon Springs, NY. We visited the farm and Sharon Springs for the first time this past spring for their Garden Party.
The cheese arrived about 1.5 weeks ago. We've slowly been savoring it and have even shared it with some friends, one of whom is a friend of one of the Beekman Boys. BLAAK is really, really tasty. It's slightly tart, but has a soft sweetness about it. The texture is not creamy like a brie, but also not as firm as, say, baby Swiss cheese. The edible rind is slightly harder than the inside; it is not smoky, as one might think. If you're not careful, the ash can get EVERYWHERE. It washes off easily, though.
It's really fun to have met and petted the goats whose milk produced the cheese awaiting our knife in front of us. While planning the whole BLAAK cheese experience, we discovered Bearboat's Pinot Noir 2007 vintage and Yellowtail's Shiraz-Cabernet (both delicious reds). Of course, we would be remiss if we didn't have wine with the cheese anyway, but adding a new wine heightened the whole experience.
The BearBoat was an especially wonderful find because it seems that the vineyard is owned and operated by a gay couple in the Russian River Valley. That area is home to one our country's fine gay Meccas, Guerneville, CA. It's not terribly surprising that a gay couple would own and operate a winery, but we were surprised to find the wine here in NJ and no one seems to know it. The primary reason Matt picked it up at the store, certainly, was because of the picture of the two bears rowing a boat. One of the bears is answering the other's question in French, which Matt thought that was funny because it's something I do to him.
The bottle's inscription on the back reads:"This is the story of Mac and Zeke, two inquisitive bears who find themselves on a quest to enjoy life's great curiosities. With no actual destination in mind they prefer to take their surroundings and simply enjoy the journey. You'll find them adrift wherever the current and the occasional row may take them. The Russian River Valley's cool morning fog and moderate afternoon temperatures give this BearBoat Pinot Noir richness and texture with bright acidity that balances beautifully. The aromas are a blend of raspberry and red cherry with a toasty vanilla spice flavor and lingering finish."
WE.HAD.TO.GET.IT.
It's fascinating to consider the build up to this moment of writing up this review of the cheese and the wine. Here's the process:
Reviewing and describing our unique journeys should enlighten us to how wonderful our lives are. Take a moment sometime to review the process and impact of one of your own journeys.
The cheese arrived about 1.5 weeks ago. We've slowly been savoring it and have even shared it with some friends, one of whom is a friend of one of the Beekman Boys. BLAAK is really, really tasty. It's slightly tart, but has a soft sweetness about it. The texture is not creamy like a brie, but also not as firm as, say, baby Swiss cheese. The edible rind is slightly harder than the inside; it is not smoky, as one might think. If you're not careful, the ash can get EVERYWHERE. It washes off easily, though.
It's really fun to have met and petted the goats whose milk produced the cheese awaiting our knife in front of us. While planning the whole BLAAK cheese experience, we discovered Bearboat's Pinot Noir 2007 vintage and Yellowtail's Shiraz-Cabernet (both delicious reds). Of course, we would be remiss if we didn't have wine with the cheese anyway, but adding a new wine heightened the whole experience.
The BearBoat was an especially wonderful find because it seems that the vineyard is owned and operated by a gay couple in the Russian River Valley. That area is home to one our country's fine gay Meccas, Guerneville, CA. It's not terribly surprising that a gay couple would own and operate a winery, but we were surprised to find the wine here in NJ and no one seems to know it. The primary reason Matt picked it up at the store, certainly, was because of the picture of the two bears rowing a boat. One of the bears is answering the other's question in French, which Matt thought that was funny because it's something I do to him.
The bottle's inscription on the back reads:"This is the story of Mac and Zeke, two inquisitive bears who find themselves on a quest to enjoy life's great curiosities. With no actual destination in mind they prefer to take their surroundings and simply enjoy the journey. You'll find them adrift wherever the current and the occasional row may take them. The Russian River Valley's cool morning fog and moderate afternoon temperatures give this BearBoat Pinot Noir richness and texture with bright acidity that balances beautifully. The aromas are a blend of raspberry and red cherry with a toasty vanilla spice flavor and lingering finish."
WE.HAD.TO.GET.IT.
It's fascinating to consider the build up to this moment of writing up this review of the cheese and the wine. Here's the process:
- Late 2010 and into early 2011, Matt and I watched the Fabulous Beekman Boys on Planet Green (about 10 hrs).
- We took the road trip up to Sharon Springs, NY, for the Garden Party.
- We stayed at the American Hotel and met its two charming owners, Doug Plummer and Garth Roberts (who got married this summer - YAY!).
- At the Garden Party, we met other wonderful folks, such as Gail Luna and his partner, Drew, who design and make delicious cakes.
- We took the tour of the Beekman mansion and its grounds, and later visited the store to buy some goat milk soap.
- We met Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, the two Beekman Boys, and Farmer John Hall and his partner, Jason Paden, who raise and tend the goats. All of these men are beautiful people and very gracious hosts.
- We even got to hang out with and get to know Doug better at Bear Week in Provincetown this summer, which was a lot of fun.
- I posted blog entries about Sharon Springs and made scrapbook pages about our trip.
- I ordered the BLAAK online, posted an entry about it and we shopped for a good wine.
- Now, I'm posting the finale.
Reviewing and describing our unique journeys should enlighten us to how wonderful our lives are. Take a moment sometime to review the process and impact of one of your own journeys.
